Two police officials found involved in attack on journalist

Irfan Khoso had been abducted, beaten up and left in the wilderness on September 1

HYDERABAD: In the case of the alleged assault of a journalist in Tharparkar, a police inquiry has reportedly implicated two police officials and their three private associates in the attack. The report of the inquiry, conducted by DSP Bilawal Mehar and DSP Ali Ahmed Khoso, was submitted to Tharparkar SSP Saud Magsi on Tuesday.

The report has corroborated allegations levelled by injured journalist Irfan Khoso who is based in Kaloi area who had claimed that he had been abducted in a vehicle on September 1, beaten up and then left in an injured condition in the wilderness. "Three men on two motorcycles chased the journalist while the two policemen sitting in a mobile later joined them," said an official, requesting anonymity.

Irfan claimed that he was punished for frequently reporting on drug peddlers. "The peddlers, as well as some policemen, kept threatening me to stop reporting on the matter," he said. The journalist also accused a local leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Muhammad Khan Loond, of orchestrating the attack.



Zahid Loond, one of the two police officials facing the charges, is a nephew of Muhammad Khan. Zahid and the other implicated officer, Raza Chandio, have been suspended and confined to the SSP office.

Talking to the local media, SSP Magsi confirmed that the investigation into the Kaloi incident has been completed.

Meanwhile, Irfan, who has still not recovered, has been advised by local doctors to seek medical treatment in Karachi or Hyderabad.